Life in Greece

Leisure

Life in Greece is like in many other places of the world. People spend their time at work and in leisure activities. For leisure, people go to cafes, restaurants, bars, clubs, parties, house gatherings, theaters, concerts, live music performances, other events. They take a stroll, walk, run, ride bicycle, swim, do water sports and activities, ski in the winter, go to the gym, do other athletic activities. They spend time on the internet, watch videos and tv, listen to music, read books, take up a hobby, go shopping, cook. They go for a ride, go on excursions, take vacations. Since many people live by the sea, water sports and activities are popular. Lunch time is between 1 and 3 pm and dinner time between 8 and 11 pm.

Bouzoukia

Going to "Bouzoukia" is a relative expensive but common and typical greek entertainment. Bouzouki is a musical instrument like a quitar which is popular in Greece. A few decades ago, in places that had live Greek music, bouzoukia (plural of bouzouki) were the main instruments used. Musicians and singers sat on chairs in a row. Male singers played an instrument, usually bouzouki. So the places that had live Greek music were called bouzoukia, a name that remains today. In older times, food was also served but it is not common anymore.

Some restaurants in tourist areas, like Plaka, have also live greek music and musicians sit on chairs. These are closer to what Bouzoukia used to be in older times but singers are not well known. In today's Bouzoukia, there is at least one well known singer who sings his/hers hits. Before him/her, not so well known singers are in the opening act. Singers perform standing on stage, while musicians sit in the backround. Often but not always, dancers are dancing around the singer. Skyladika (skylos is dog) are cheaper, lower quality Bouzoukia where singers are not well known.  

Outdoors

Because of the weather, people spend time outdoors. This happens also during the winter since the climate is mild. When it is sunny, many people sit or walk outdoors. Also many places have heated outdoor areas. Even at night, in winter, people may sit outdoors in coffeshops, restaurants, bars, when the temprature is not very low. In summer, people spend some time outdoors almost daily, even for a while.

Beach time

Four months a year, June to September, most people swim in the sea. Some do it for six months, May to October. Few dare longer and even all year round. During winter, generally water temperature does not drop below 14°C (57,2°F). Seven out of the ten largest cities are by the sea; Athens, Salonica, Patras, Piraeus, Heraklion, Volos, Chalcis. Only Larissa, Ioannina and Trikala are not. Larissa is an hour driving from the sea. Ionnina is by a lake. Many other cities are by the sea. Many cities by the sea have nice beaches near them. Of course, in the islands and other places like Chalkidiki beaches are nicer. Chalkidiki is not far from Salonika.

Tourist season

Tourists come in Greece all year around but tourist season starts in Easter and lasts till end of October. The peak is in July and August. During summertime, in touristic places like around Plaka, foreign tourists are a lot more than locals. Most Greeks get their vacation in August, especially form 1st to 20th. During that time, summer vacation destinations are very crowded and cities are empty. At around 15th of August, Athens it is very quiet and mostly tourists are there.

Winter time

Greece does not have only long seashore, many islands and beaches. It has also many beatiful mountains with picturesque villages and sightseeings. There are many relatively close to Athens, Salonica and larger cities. Some people go skiing during the winter. Ski season is shorter than in Central and Northern Europe. There are at least four ski resorts, a couple of hours driving distance from Athens; Parnassos, Kalavrita, Mainalo, Zireia.

The largest and more organized is in Parnassos, Beotia and the second is in Kalavrita. Kalavrita in Achaia, Mainalo in Arcadia and Zireia in Corintia are in Peloponnese. Although these are in different prefectures, they are close to each other. The closest one to Athens is in Zireia. Karpenisi in Evrytania is a little further than Parnassos but still close to Athens. There are at least four ski resorts close to Salonica; Kamaiktsalan, Elatochori, Seli, Vasilitsa. There are many more close to other cities. 

Arachova is the town next to Parnassos ski resort which is also close to Delphi. Arachova is called winter Mykonos. Many people that go to Mykonos during the summer, go to Arachova during the winter. Mykonos is (or at least was) the most popular summer destination among Greeks and Arachova is the most popular winter destination. Many wealthy people have vacation homes in Mykonos and Arachova. During ski season, especially on weekends, it gets many visitors. Since it is only a couple of hours driving, it is commnon to go there on a one day excursion, for skiing or other winter activities and come back to Athens on the same day.

Visit home town

In Athens and Salonica lives almost half of the population. Many people that live there originate from villages, towns or cities that are in other prefectures. There are 51 or 54 prefectures all together. In Attica, where Athens is, there are 4 prefecures. If Attica is counted as one, the number of prefectures is 51, otherwise it is 54. During vacations and holidays, many people go to the places they originate from. Either they have homes or stay with relatives.

Christmas season

The biggest holidays are Christmas, Easter and Dormition of the Mother of God (Panagias) on August 15th. Christmas is a public holiday. The day after Christmas is Glorifying the Mother of God, also a public holiday. So are New Year's Day and Epiphany (Theofania or Fota) on January 6th. Although not holidays, most businesses let their employees leave earlier on Christmas and New Year's Eve. Many people add vacation days during holiday season.

On Christmas Day, people gather at homes. They start with lunch after 1.30 pm. It is common to have turkey cooked in the oven. Celebration goes on for hours. On Epiphany the "Dive of the Cross" is performed. A priest throws a cross tied with a rope in the water. Usually this is done in the sea but also lakes and rivers can be used in some places that do not have sea close by. Swimmers dive to catch the cross and whoever succeeds will get the priest's blessing and have good luck.

Pure Monday - Carnival

Easter is always 7 weeks or 48 days after Clean or Pure Monday, a public holiday. Pure Monday is the first day of Great Lent, a seven weeks fasting. Only very religious people fast during the whole period but most people do it during the last part, Holly Week before Easter. On Pure Monday people eat fasting foods and fly kites. The day before Pure Monday is Carnaval (or Carnival).

People get dressed in costumes and social norms are suspendend. There are parades and street parties. The origins of Carnival are in ancient Greek Dionysian festivities and Roman Satumalia. Patras, the third largest city, has the most famous Carnaval with the largest parade. The whole week before Sunday there is a lot of partying going on.

On the weekend, there are visitors from all over Greece. It is impossible to find a hotel room, unless it is booked in advance. Some people go on Saturday, stay up all night partying and go back to Athens or wherever they came from on Sunday night. In addition to Patras, there are other cities famous for their Carnaval; Naoussa, Xanthi, Rethimno, Theba, Syros. In Athens, famous for their Carnival are Moschato, Renti and Plaka.

Easter

Easter is a movebale holiday. It is always on Sunday. Good Friday and Easter Monday are public holidays. Eastern Orthodox and Catholic Easter are rarely on the same date. There is discussion between Catholic and Orhtodox Church to establish Easter on the same date. Easter date has ranged from 4th of April till 8th of May. Usually it is in between these extreme dates, around April 20th.

On Easter day, people roast lamp on spit, outdoors. This starts very early in the morning since it takes many hours for the lamp to get ready. The play loud music, usually folk, drink and celebrate. The festivity starts in the morning and lasts till late in the afternoon. On Good Friday, Epitaphios is carried in the streets around the church and people follow holding lighted candles. In some smaller cities, Epitaphs from all churches gather at a central location, usually a square.

On Saturday, people go to churches after 11 pm. Before 12 pm, all lights go out and it gets dark. A priest brings a lighted candle and all people inside and outside the church light the candles they have brought with them. At 12 pm exactly, priests start chanting "Christ is resurrected" and people follow. Bells ring joyfully and lots of fireworks go off. Afterwards people go home, knock boiled eggs painted red and eat magiritsa, a soup made of lamp offal, which they have prepared in advance.

May 1st

May 1st is also a public holiday. It is double celebration, Worker's Day and spring celebration. It is around halfway between the Northern Hemisphere's Spring equinox and June solstice. Spring celebration originates in ancient times. Maiouma or Maiuma in Ancinet Greece celbrated Dionysus and Aphrodite in May. The Floralia were held in Rome. People gather wildflowers and green branches and weave floral garlands.

Other holidays

Another public Holiday is Whit Monday which is a movable holiday in the beginning of June. Since it is the beginning of summer, many people take their first short summer vacation, adding one or two vacation days. August 15th is the third largest holiday, aftet Christmas and Easter. People gather at homes with family and friends and eat late lunch, usually beef.

March 25th is also public holiday. The start of the Independence war against Ottoman Empire is celebrated. On that same day there is a religious holiday, the Annunciation of Holly Mary. On October 28th,puplic holiday as well, saying NO to Axis in 1940 is celebrated. The official date of liberation from Nazis is October 12th. In most countries, liberation date is celebrated but for some reason, OHI (NO) is celebrated in Greece. On both dates, there are parades, everywhere in Greece.

Aggregation of towns

Athens and Salonica are aggregations of smaller towns/neighborhoods that are relatively autonomous. Each one has stores, offices, coffee shops, recreational facilities, parks etc. Most of them are in the center of town/neighborhood and around them are residential buildings. Residents can do their shoping and every day errands in their town/neighgorhood.

Office - store hours

Working hours for businesses are 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday but many people work more than that. Generally, hours for most stores are Monday through Saturday 9 am to 3 pm. On Tuesdays and Thursdays stores are open from 5 till 8.30 pm but close earlier in the afternoon. Big stores are open daily from 9 am to 9 pm and on Saturdays from 9 am till 6 pm. During holidays, hours may be different. On eight Sundays during the year, stores are open.

Country information  History 1   History 2   Ancestry  Politics-Economics